Michigan Vamp

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Eccentric Night Owl

Quote from Blood Read

"An ambiguously coded figure, a source of both erotic anxiety and corrupt desire, the literary vampire is one of the most powerful archetypes bequeathed to us from the imagination of the nineteenth century."~ page 2 introduction to Blood Read: The Vampire as Metaphor in Contemporary Culture

Intellectual Vampire Quote

"If the vampire is an other, he or she was always a figure in whom one could find one's self...the despicable as well as the defiant, the shameful as well as the unashamed, the loathing of oddness as well as pride in it."~ Richard Dyer

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Tuesday, July 20, 2010

She has an interesting post about the allure of self-confident alpha males.

She also has a couple giveaways .

The last time I visited the FANG-TASTIC blog site I talked about the alluring self-confidence of vampires. This time, let’s expand on that. Alpha males are attractive to many women because of the “I’m a strong manly-man who can save you, babycakes,” persona. It screams: “I’m capable, reliable, and I want you so bad I’ll risk everything.” It’s dramatized flattery at its finest.

Don’t we all want our man to be capable of becoming the warrior who protects us from the whims of our enemies, then changes light bulb? Don’t we all want the reliable guy who will doubtlessly do the right thing in any given situation and who will remember—all by himself—to take out the trash? Isn’t it even better if he can read us perfectly and knows when to chivalrously hold the door and flirt as we pass through, and when to just get the hell out of the way?

Ahhh. Fiction is a wonderful, wonderful thing, ain’t it? :-)

Relationships are never perfect. Neither are people. So flawed characters dealing with the ups and downs of interpersonal connections—all while dealing with being a vampire or a witch or a werewolf—are the characters most interesting to me. Those who, despite the odds, keep on navigating around those potholes on the highway of love can be especially fun.

Menessos, to me, is definitely an alpha male, but he’s also driving much too fast on that aforementioned highway in his overpriced sports/luxury car weaving in and around traffic hoping to impress...but the impression he’s usually making is one of arrogant charm. Sometimes it’s vexing. Sometimes it’s funny. Sometimes it’s wearying. Persephone likes it in small doses, but loathes it in any large, bossy display. Figuring out who reacts how, who has the upper hand, and who thinks they do, is great fun for me.

In FATAL CIRCLE, Persephone needs some help and Menessos is in the position to provide that assistance, but it means she must move into his Haven. She is being forced to accept some serious changes in her life and adding a new (and not entirely safe) environment to them is not the highlight of her plan. But her presence at the Haven does seem to be a bright spot for Menessos, who is determined to seduce her.

For example, here’s two excerpts:

EXCERPT ONE:

“How about we start with Johnny?” I wanted to know about the ties between Johnny and I that Menessos mentioned at the restaurant.

His voice lowered. “How about we start without Johnny?”

Though my back was turned to the fire, warmth slithered across my aura; it was an invitation duplicated in his smoldering eyes.

I drew my shields around me. “Why do you bounce back and forth between humanizing yourself to the point of making me feel sorry for you, and then play Mr. Dangerous Sex-Starved Vampire?”

Amused, he said, “I am not sex starved.”

“It’s annoying and it’ll get old, fast, if you keep it up.”

The heat abated, but was still present. “My apologies, Persephone.” Standing at the end of the granite countertop, he reached into a decorative azure blue bowl and lifted one of the crackled glass orbs. Even as he inspected it, twisting his wrist, I could feel it as if his fingers were flicking over my aura. “Do you not like having your flesh kindled?”

I recognized and resisted this, strengthening my shields even more, but my body still responded to it.

“Wasn’t that made clear with the word ‘annoying’?” The breathlessness of my voice pissed me off. So did he.

Menessos is accustomed to instant gratification. When she shuts him down, he’s annoyed with her, but he still won’t totally give up. That she reacts regardless makes Persephone even more determined to resist. It is neither his power nor his bullish manipulation that reels her a little closer, however.

EXCERPT TWO:

All of his suits were cut to complement him as only the best garments can, but tonight there was something especially masculine about him. He wore no tie and his linen shirt was neither tucked nor fully buttoned. I appraised his self-assured gait, and the competent way he scanned both sidewalks ahead of us and behind, gauging every facet of our environment.

No matter how docile he seemed, underneath he was a predator.

No matter how modern he seemed, underneath he was ancient.

He’d lived thousands of years. He’d experienced almost all recorded history from the dawn of civilization until now. Yet, he strolled along with me, hands unassumingly in his pockets. Seemingly content.

“What was the moment you realized nothing would ever be the same?” I had to ask.

It’s not the things that make him unique or powerful that appeal to her, it is the things that make him human. Her inescapable, larger-than-life destiny makes her uncertain, but she knows that he’s been through this before.

Ultimately, what he wants from her isn’t something this stubborn woman intends to give him, and what she needs from him may be the one thing he cannot or will not give her. Where they each draw their lines in the sand for relationships will determine their fate, unless someone concedes.

So…an alpha male’s stoic self-confidence is great. Sometimes even a touch of arrogance can be justifiable. But sometimes, that wall of conviction has to come down. Sometimes, an alpha male has to expose his vulnerability—not his strength—to win a place in the heart of his beloved.

What do you think? How does emotional vulnerability impact your view of the alpha male?

Leave an answer in the comments and be entered to win (see rules below)!

WHAT YOU COULD WIN:

1st Prize:Autographed copies of both

HALLOWED CIRCLE & FATAL CIRCLE.

2nd Prize:Authographed copy of just FATAL CIRCLE.

RULE ONE: You must have a US mailing address.

RULE TWO: Leave a comment on this blog answering the question above. **You have until Noon EST Sunday July 25, 2010 to leave your comment. I will draw a name from those who participated, and announce it in the blog comments. (If at all possible I will announce the winner that day within an hour or so of the deadline. However, things happen—I do have rambunctious kids, so barring emergency room visits or other such unforeseeable events I will be on-time, but I reserve the right to be late.) Once the winner is announced, the winner has 48 hours to email their shipping address to me @ rockinwriterlinda @ yahoo DOT com. If the winner fails to do so, another name will be drawn and that winner will have the same 48 hours to comply. ** I will be leaving the next week to attend RWA Nationals, so my internet access may be sporadic at best.

60 comments:

The "Alpha" male is the dominant leader of the pack. They have qualities and strengths which make them "number one"! Along with all that greatness can come arrogance, a "my way is the only way" attitude, and a sometimes ornery personality. However, their fierce devotion to their loved ones, their loyalty and their innate honor all go together quite nicely to smooth the rough edges. Not too smooth, though...leave some of that masculine allure...a little beard stubble to tickle your skin : )

I love big, gruff, tough men who have even bigger hearts and an inner core of compassion. I also appreciate intelligence and humor, but kindness is the essential quality. Vulnerability is sometimes the key to an alpha male. What he may consider to be his weakness is actually the inner force which makes him an alpha.

I think an alpha male definitely needs a little emotional vulnerability. Firstly, just as a character, it gives them more depth which makes them more interesting to read about. And how can you care for your pack if you don't care about them? Plus, doesn't not having any feelings make you a sociopath or something?

What kind of character would an alpha male make without some type of emotional vulnerability? Not a very good one.

I'm attracted to tough, mocho, bad-ass men who can whoop ass and take names. But apart of that allure is the 'softer' side of them. The vulnerable side. It gives depth and dimension to the character which is what I personally want to read.

I love a big strong alpha male but he needs to show some emotions besides anger. I think it's makes for a great book to have a big strong man show his feelings in a book as long as he's not made into a big cry baby. There's a fine line between showing emotions and being a wimp sometimes. I think it depends on how it's written.

I think an alpha male has to have some sort of emotional vulnerability exposed. Otherwise, he's just a jerk. Sure there are jerks in our books, but for a relationship standpoint the alpha male would have to have a weakspot, a vulnerability that gets exposed in order for him to be likeable.

I think that if he was all alpha male with no vulnerabilities he wouldn't be likeable. He wouldn't be the alpha male we readers swoon for.

That goes for reality purposes too. An alpha male type of guy has to show some feelings in order to be likealbe or easy to connect to.

I much prefer a guy who is willing to admit that he isn't perfect and that he needs the heroine. I find it very sexy when he's willing to be open and to show his emotions. Otherwise he's just arrogant and annoying. My favorite stories are ones that show the hero's POV and show how much he likes the heroine.

I really think Virgina C's comment really hit the nail on the head for me when answering that question. I am an absolute sucker when it comes to an alpha male type. I love how dominant they can be but at the same time not to the point where they are barbaric. That's not a turn-on. Emotional vulnerability is allowed of course to a point. I definitely don't like an alpha male that has the physical package of one but then is a weeping willy (or whatever you call it). There has to be a balance. For me since I would consider myself an alpha female I need someone who is dominant to me, but then has moments where they can be the sub also.

I really like the alpha male to be a bit vulnerabile. I think it makes him a more interesting character.I have not read her books. They sound really good. Love the covers. Really enjoyed your post.Sue Bkatsrus(at)gmail(dot)com

I think the alpha males kind-of have to have some emotional vunerablity it some small way otherwise thay just come off to me as complete jerks. I mean I down want them completely soft but who wants to have the herione sleeping with a total butthead

Hi Jessica! I'm with you! I want both! I want the tough guy who knows when to not be so tough.

Hi Sherry! I agree with you too. It's hard to write sometimes; I've got a side project going and I thought the guy was sweet, if co-dependant on the heroine. A guy I know read it and thought he came off as an A**. So...rewrite time.

Hi yadkny! I can appreciate your point of view. And yeah, Virginia C was dead-on.

Hi Yan! We are all having a concensus of liking the tough guy who knows how to be vulnerable here, aren't we?

Hi Sue (katsrus)! I'm diggin that we're all on the same page here! Wow. I mean a rock is a rock (unless he's The Rock and then he's yummy) but a rock is boring. Gotta have some vulnerabilities for that interest.

Hi Jennifer M! No one wants the heroine to sleep with a total butthead...but sometimes it a necessary plot point! hee hee. seriously, a lot of women have had the butthead ex boyfriend and if a play on that connection is in the plot, I'm willing to forgive the heroine for doing something perhaps I as the reader said, NO DON'T!

Hi Jelly Belly! You know, I agree, but I have to admit, that the more I think about it, I really enjoyed Much Ado About Nothing in which side characters played by Kenneth Branaugh and Emma Thompson hated each other but were obviously in love. Getting them to show it was the fun part of those characters' relationship--because BOTH were strongwilled.

Hi Jeanette! And we know our vampires /were/ human so they need to still be in touch with that!

Hi Estella! He would be hard to believe in. Why am I thinkin of Bonnie Tyler's "I Need A Hero" song suddenly?

Hi Van Pham! Finding out there is a softie under that tough exterior and what makes a character show it is the fun part!

Hi Bethie! I agree. We can't desire a guy who's cold stony exterior is all we know. Well, okay maybe if he's totally hot, but the heroine's gotta get up close to this guy and if he's an emotionally sterile jerk, there'll be nothing for her to be attracted to anymore.

I think the alpha male needs some emotional vulnerability, otherwise you cannot truly care for the character. Who wants to care about an emotional brick?? Strength is great, but with strength must come some sort of trade off to keep a balance. No one can be truly invulnerable.

If the alpha male didn't show any emotional vulnerability, there would be no getting to know him for the heroine or the reader. I think he has to have some chinks in his armor, or he's not a realistic character.

I prefer an alpha male that is built like a stack of bricks but cries like a pigtailed schoolgirl when he gets a papercut. Bwhahaha.

Okay, I have to say, Virginia C said it most succintly. It's that seldom seen soft side that draws us in. The emotionally stunted are rarely enjoyable to read. (Though I do admit to a serious weakness for the secretly emotionally vulnerable/scarred - I love me a good fixer-upper. Um, tho never IRL) lol

"Can you name a TV or movie hero who you think is an alpha male and who is /too/ emotionally vulnerable? Can you name one who's not emotionally open enough?"

I can't think right off the bat of an alpha male that is too emotionally vulnerable but... one that isn't emotional enough I would have to go with... Damon Salvatore from Vampire Diaries. He has these spurts/moments where it looks like he might actually care, but then he is quick to cover them up with his cockiness or aggressive nature. Edward I guess has moments where he could be an alpha male but then, to me, there are times where he is just too emotional whereas Jacob had moments where he wasn't emotional enough. Just some thoughts:)

Linda - I love the premise of your books. I'm adding them to my TBB list.

To answer your question, I think alpha males need to be vulnerable for me to fall in love with them. I want a heroine who finds the chink in his armor and brings out that softer side of him. Great post!

Hi Crystal GB! YOu bring up a good point--the layers of personality. The world sees the outermost layer, his friends see a deeper layer, women may see something under the surface, but only his one true love will see all the way to his core. Very nice.

Hi Nina! Thank you sooo much! SQUEE!

Hi ktshabatie! You bring up a good point too, that the alpha males shows this vulnerability at will, and only to his chosen love.

What do you think? How does emotional vulnerability impact your view of the alpha male?It's great within reason. Having been divorced 3 times (SHOOSH!) I have had my fair share of Alpha males. So far not one has been a very balanced version of alpha and compassion. There always seems to be to much of one side or the other to live with. LOL!

To me... I think that's what makes an Alpha male. If there is nothing but the Alphaness... then he's probably a jerk. If there is nothing but compassion / emotional vulnerability... then he's probably too whiny and a wimp. Neither of those extremes are my cup of tea:)

I like that you see emotions in the Alpha male characters....as long as they do not go all whimpy on us. Our fav is still the strength in a man. Both physical and emotional. Not cold but strong. It is what helps us feel safe.

By the way I am doing a week of giveaways at my place if your interested.

I like that you see emotions in the Alpha male characters....as long as they do not go all whimpy on us. Our fav is still the strength in a man. Both physical and emotional. Not cold but strong. It is what helps us feel safe.

By the way I am doing a week of giveaways at my place if your interested.

I think the alpha male would have to be able to show his feelings to his significant other. Because, if he didn't, who could be in a relationship with him? He probably couldn't be overly sensitive with the rest of the group, though, because to be a good leader, emotions can't cloud your judgement.I am a gfc follower.debbietwoofakind12@yahoo.com

Hi yadkny! Back again!!! YAY! Neither of those extremes would be my cup of tea either! But sometimes I feel like the 'alpha' sacrifices the emotions to be stronger and to retain his power thinking that strength is more important than emotion--when truly, having both in balance takes a far stronger man. :-)

Hi Lynette! "Not cold, but strong." See above! :-) And was your message about the week of giveaways meant for Roxanne who runs this blog, for me, or for the readers???

Hi Debbie! You're right--those emotions can cloud judgment, which makes for a better story, I think.Take Evy in the end of The Mummy Returns for instance-- she decides to brave the falling stalactites to save her man. (And--pet peeve showing--I thought that everything about Meela up til that point showed her as brave. I liked seeing the scarabs get her, but it would have been more in character for her to try to save her man, too. She should've been squashed by a stalactite. Just saying.) It's that moment of choice--follow emotions, or logic--that tells SOO much about a person's character and a character's character. :-)

Hi k sunshine! I agree--not openness no shot at relationship. But perhaps many alpha males are avoiding that emotional intimacy by having one-night-stands that have no 'relationship' attached. Hence the 'conquest' frame of mind.

I think the Alpha male, at least for me, has to be able to show some emotional vulnerability so that he can understand what I am feeling. I don't want him breaking down and crying every 2 minutes...but he has to have some consideration for emotion...and hormones. :)

If the winners will please email me at rockinwriterlinda AT yahoo DOT com within the next 48 hours and provide your shiping addresses, I will mail the books to you. If I do not hear from you within 48 hours, I'll choose another name and announce it here.** k sunshine will get an email from me because she provided hers in her comment. ** barbara e--I don't have one for you!!!*** In 48 hours I will be on a plane for RWA nationals. I will attend to any necessary re-selection as soon as possible!!!

And the 2nd round winners are:Jessica (there were two Jessicas in the running, this is the jessica whose avatar picture had one person in it not two) won the signed copies of HALLOWED CIRCLE & FATAL CIRCLE and...

Lynette won the signed copy of FATAL CIRCLE! you both have 48 hours to email me at rockinwriterlinda AT yahoo DOT com with your US shipping address to claim your prize!